By Chris GuttormsonIt's a disease that has plagued seniors for years. It shows no mercy and eats away at the concentration of all who are unfortunate enough to succumb to it's evil. You can't run. You can't hide! Look out, it's SENIORITIS!!!!!! Even though senioritis is not an actual disease, it can sure feel like one. Towards the end of the school year, the seniors are thinking of prom, graduation, college admission, spending some of the last times they will spend with friends, and loads of other stuff. School just seems pointless. "I'm already accepted to this college, why do I have to do well in high school anymore?" Such comments are not unheard of in the halls of high schools this time of year.

So, what's the remedy for this awful disease? Is there one? I'm sorry to say that there is no easy way to get rid of it. Even the most dedicated student can feel as if it's pointless to go to school during that last month or so of school, even though they know it's not. Just because there is no cure for senioritis, there is, in fact, a few ways to make the last stretch of your senior year a little easier. Plan, prioritize, break down, and smile.

PLAN! By planning tasks out ahead of time, you will be able to comprehend better the goals that you must reach. Also, by writing down everything you must do in the day or month, etc... you will not forget to do something. Many times we get swamped with tasks whether it be homework, work, sports, plays, musical performances, etc... and we end up not remembering everything we are supposed to do and when. By keeping a calendar schedule, you can keep all these things organized so you won't forget to get something done.

PRIORITIZE! Make sure you know which task is more important. Not only that, know when each task is important. You may enjoy doing one thing more so you spend more time on it. This could be bad in the long run. You must decide what is important and get it done. Even though this concept seems like common sense and even a little ridiculous to mention, it is too often overlooked by seniors, and any student, for that matter. We end up doing things we enjoy rather than things that need to get done and we will pay for it dearly in the end. So just get it over with so you can put it behind you.

BREAK DOWN! No, I don't mean break down in tears (though many of us may feel like doing that once in a while due to stress) or "gettin' down with your bad self." I'm talking about breaking tasks down into smaller ones. If you separate your tasks and look at each (now small) task individually, it will become much easier to complete them. Many of us step back from our lives and take a look at everything ! we have to do as a whole. This can overwhelm us to the point of breaking down (bad pun). So, break the jobs down. This is one of the most useful tactics in completing tasks that I have ever found. When you concentrate on one thing until it is completed, and then put it behind you and do the same with the next job, it becomes so much easier. And before you know it, everything is done!!

SMILE! Whatever you do in life you must take it with a grain of salt. There is absolutely no point in getting uptight about life. There are things we all have to do so we should just do them and try to have fun in the process. You should try to find some little thing that sparks your interest in the things you do. It will make them go so much faster and you won't give yourself an ulcer in the process.

Even though there is no perfect cure for senioritis (or stress), you can make your life a lot easier by taking a few organizational steps. As you go through your life you will have many different experiences and meet many different people. I feel a successful person has experienced a lot and learned from each experience. We all should learn a little something from everything we do and cherish that time in our lives forever. The same goes for high school. It will be over soon enough so don't be in a hurry to get out. You've spent most of your life with these people so hold on to that for a little longer. Cherish the time you have with your peers because chances are you won't see most of them again aside from class reunions. You still have some experiencing to do before high school is over so go live life and stick it out until graduation day. I'll bet when that day comes you'll miss all the good times you've had here.

Chris Guttormson is a senior at Fillmore Central High School and is one of six area high school students who regularly contribute a personal column to the Journal.

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